Cultural and performing arts centre in Piacenza

This thesis work investigate the issue of understanding the role of accommodating change to heritage places and adding new layers to the historic urban environment in ways that recognize, interpret, and sustain their heritage values. Buildings, streetscapes, and urban areas evolve and change according to the needs of their inhabitants. Therefore, it is important to determine the role of contemporary architecture in contributing to this change in ways that conserve and celebrate the special character and quality of the historic environment that communities have recognized as important and wish to conserve for future generations. Our study case is dealing with identity of Piacenza – Roman Walls and dynamic growing of the city. Origin of the element wall in the symbolic view represents physical and spiritual protection. In order to fully realize the relationships engaged between the city of Piacenza and its surrounding walls, we believe that understanding the true meaning of the wall as an archetype and in what way now leading perception of wall differs from the original one, is fundamental. Our attitude towards the object of cultural history changes, our way of dealing with the past is subject to variations. Every period has the duty to keep historical buildings fit for use, as the present makes ever varying claims on it. Every period has the right to identify itself through its environment and also through the specific way it regards the past. What we should do however is to use the old object, but not dispose of it. Historic areas typically exhibit a range of heritage values, such as social, historical, and architectural. Frequently, they also have aesthetic significance; therefore, the design quality of new insertions in a historic area is important. As Aldo Rossi is written in his book, what makes a city more alive and remember able is not just related to the architectural masses, it’s also related to the memories. Most successful new buildings designed in a valued historic context inevitably rely on an understanding of, and then response to, the special character and qualities of the context. As with any conservation work, understanding significance of the place is crucial. Also in common with most conservation work is that it is case specific. A city center with an architecturally unified city core may need a different approach than one that has a variety of architectural forms, scales, and expressions. In an urban settlement that continues to sustain traditional craft and building techniques and materials.